Handle too much?

[Galla68]

I know not too handle him for a couple days after he eats, and that he'll get touchy in shed, but in general is unhealthy at all to keep him out of his tank too long? I like to chill with him for an hour or too a day even if hes just climbing around on me, is this bad for him?

[Shaun J]

They can get stressed, but if he likes to explore, then why not.

[lillyorchid]

I don't see why not if he doesn't seem to mind it

[Lovable sam]

How do you tell he doesn't mind it?

[Spaniard]

There are snakes that do not mind being handled for extended periods of time, although in general handling a snake will cause stress. If your snake starts to feed irregularly I would stop handling until a consistent feeding schedule was accomplished and then I would start to handle again. I try to handle my snakes as little as possible, mostly only handling on a day I need to do maintenance in their tanks.

[cassandra]

I think it may depend on your animal(s). For us, it seems our girls are "done" being handled after about an hour or so; Cleo will start constantly trying to hide in the crevice of the chair, Carmen won't sit still after a long period of being very calm.

What's fun is that our bp will usually stay active in her cage for another hour or two after we put her back in, so we get to enjoy watching do her thing (slither, drinky, slither, think about peeing, slither, stare into space, slither - it's a busy life). =D

[snakedude56]

i agree i think it depends on your particular animal. i handle my snakes every day or two unless they just ate(after a feed i wait about 48 hours). i handle monty and cesar for about 15-20 minutes when i have them out and honey I only handle for 5 mins because she is still very. as long as your snake is eating, shedding, and pooping like it should then i dont see the harm in them being handled

[iceman25]

I like to keep handling sessions short, maybe half an hour at the max. Over handling defenitely causes them stress and should be avoided at all costs.

[Binx]

My snakes acctually love being handled. Somtimes I'll stick my hand in the cage and they just come slither up to me and hop on. You're fine with handling unless you see signs of stress, like refusing to eat.